Overview

The Forum on Tax Administration (FTA) was created in 2002 and is a unique forum on tax administration for Commissioners from 53 OECD and non-OECD countries, including members of the G20. Our vision is to create a forum through which Commissioners can identify, discuss and influence relevant global trends and develop new ideas to enhance tax administration around the world.

Our key aim is to improve taxpayer services and tax compliance by helping tax administrations increase the efficiency, effectiveness and fairness of tax administration and reduce the costs of compliance. To ensure that the results of our work are available to as many tax administrations as possible, we publish the results of our key studies in the form of reports and information or guidance notes in the tax administration guidance series.

Members

Since its creation in 2002, the Forum on Tax Administration (FTA) has become a unique Forum for co-operation between revenue bodies at Commissioner-level with participation from the following 53 members:

Australia

Austria

Argentina

Belgium

Brazil

Canada

Chile

Colombia

Costa Rica

Czech Republic

Denmark

Estonia

Finland

France

Germany

Georgia

Greece

Hong Kong China

Hungary

Iceland

India

Indonesia

Ireland

Israel

Italy

Japan

Kenya

Korea

Latvia

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Malaysia

Mexico

Netherlands

New Zealand

Norway

People’s Republic of China

Peru

Poland

Portugal

Romania

Russian Federation

Saudi Arabia

Singapore

Slovak Republic

Slovenia

South Africa

Spain

Sweden

Switzerland

Turkey

United Kingdom

United States

How it works

The work of the Forum is overseen by a Bureau of 13 Commissioners from the participating revenue bodies. The FTA is chaired by Hans Christian Holte, Commissioner, Norwegian Tax Administration.

FTA collaborative work is organised under three pillars: supporting the international agenda; improving compliance; and future tax administration. The work programme is delivered by five enduring networks, a number of time-limited projects undertaken by smaller groups of tax administrations and “Communities of Interest” (which are fora in which tax administration experts can exchange ideas and best practice). All of these work streams operate under the sponsorship of lead Commissioners. These are detailed below:

The FTA work programme is also underpinned by the biennial Tax Administration Series (TAS) which contains comparative information on tax administrations. The 2017 edition was published in September 2017.

Vision

The FTA's vision is to create a forum through which tax administrators can identify, discuss and influence relevant global trends and develop new ideas to enhance tax administration around the world.

Within the context of a global economy, rapid technological change and fiscal challenges for government, the forum aims to improve taxpayer services and tax compliance - by helping revenue bodies increase the efficiency, effectiveness and fairness of tax administration and reduce the costs of compliance.

The FTA achieves this vision and aim through the engagement of participating countries by:

Providing a unique global forum where the heads of revenue bodies and their teams can share experiences and expertise on tax administration issues (see list of previous meetings)

Harnessing the collective strength of participating revenue bodies and, where appropriate, speaking with one voice and developing joint programmes of action on key tax administration issues

Developing and promoting world class products and standards on high integrity, effective, efficient and fair tax administration

Engaging in dialogue with key stakeholders (including business and individual taxpayers, tax intermediaries, tax policy makers and financial regulators) and supporting parallel dialogue at a national level

Promoting co-operation between countries and working co-operatively with other OECD fora, international and regional tax organisations